Dry conditions helped set the stage for blazes that scorched hundreds of homes. Tens of thousands were forced to evacuate ahead of New Year’s eve eve.

The fires have been raging through suburbs near Denver since December 30th. Strong winds fanned the flames and knocked out power. There were no casualties, which Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle called’miraculous’.

More than two-thirds of Colorado’s land is experiencing’severe’ drought. Officials suspect that downed power lines might have sparked the inferno.

For all periods from Jul 1st to Dec 29th, Denver has been the driest on record by over an inch. Snowfall is at record low levels, too.

The potential for’significant fire activity’ was’above normal’ for nearly all of the West at some point this year. By the end of the year, more than 7.8 million acres burned across the US.

Severe fires have become much more frequent in the Western us over the past few decades with hotter, drier seasons. On top of that, fire season – which used to run roughly from May to November – no longer seems to let up.

An official shortage was declared at the US’ largest reservoir, Hoover dam’s lake Mead, in August. Water levels at the reservoir dipped to a historic low in June. Mandatory water cuts will kick in for Arizona, Nevada, and Mexico starting January 1st.